Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Health Reporter
VILLAGERS of Nyamaropa in Nyanga benefited from a free dental care outreach programme led by Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital in collaboration with health institutions from across the province.
The initiative, held at Regina Coeli Mission Hospital in Nyanga, brought essential oral health services directly to the doorstep of underserved rural residents.
VCPH public relations focal person, Mrs Nyaradzo Nyandiya explained that the outreach was part of the hospital’s broader efforts to provide medical relief to hard-to-reach communities.
“Our primary objective was to offer free dental treatment to the community surrounding Regina Coeli. This area lacks a dental clinic, forcing villagers to travel to Nyanga District Hospital, which often proves unaffordable,” she said.
Mrs Nyandiya said the outreach programme drew a diverse team of oral health professionals.
“We had a team of trained oral healthcare professionals, including four dentists from Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital, led by Dr Wayne Mbeba. Additionally, we had four dental therapists, two from our institution, one from Bonda Mission Hospital, and another from Nyanga District Hospital,” she said.
The team treated approximately 140 people in a single day, with most requiring treatment for retained primary teeth.
“Common issues included retained primary teeth and dental caries. We also provided health education and distributed free toothbrushes to patients after treatment,” said Mrs Nyandiya, adding that the outreach was not an isolated event, but part of a broader vision to deliver consistent, decentralised dental care.
“We aim to conduct at least one dental outreach per quarter. Our goal is to foster a culture of oral health awareness in the province and reduce the burden on our main hospitals,” she said, adding that outreach locations are selected based on need.
“We choose areas where access to dental services is limited or non-existent. Regina Coeli and Nyamaropa communities fit that criteria perfectly.
“Patients received more than just extractions – they received education on proper brushing techniques, the importance of regular check-ups, and why toothbrushes should be replaced every three months,” said Mrs Nyandiya, while expressing delight at the community’s response to the outreach programme.
“The local people were very grateful. Many of them had suffered in silence for years due to a lack of access to dental care. Most of the cases were heart-wrenching, involving people who had endured pain for months and finally received extractions. They left smiling, pain-free,” said Mrs Nyandiya.
Mrs Nyandiya encouraged those requiring follow-up care to visit their nearest facility.
She acknowledged the support of local leadership, hospital administrators, and the Ministry of Health and Child Care in making the programme possible.
“People often ignore oral health until it affects their speech, sleep, or eating habits. However, we want to change that mindset – oral health is an integral part of general health. Your mouth is the gateway to your body,” she said.
She said the hospital is already planning its next outreach, likely to be held in another rural part of Manicaland.
The team previously conducted a similar outreach at St Peter’s Mission Hospital in Chisumbanje in March.
For individuals like Mr Samuel Nyanhanda, the outreach was life-changing.
“I did not know I would smile again without pain. I had even lost hope. Now I can sleep better, eat, and talk to my grandchildren without discomfort,” he said with a toothless grin.
